Tag Archive EB-1

ByPhillip Kim

Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1

Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1

You may be eligible for an employment-based, first-preference visa if you have an extraordinary ability, are an outstanding professor or researcher, or are a multinational executive or manager. Each occupational category has certain requirements that must be met:

1. Extraordinary Ability
Description:
You must be able to demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim. Your achievements must be recognized in your field through extensive documentation. No offer of employment is required.

Evidence:
You must meet 3 of 10 criteria* below, or provide evidence of a one-time achievement (i.e., Pulitzer, Oscar, Olympic Medal)

2. Outstanding professors and researchers
Description:
You must demonstrate international recognition for your outstanding achievements in a particular academic field. You must have at least 3 years experience in teaching or research in that academic area. You must be entering the United States in order to pursue tenure or tenure track teaching or comparable research position at a university or other institution of higher education.

Evidence:
You must include documentation of at least two listed below** and an offer of employment from the prospective U.S. employer.

3. Multinational manager or executive
Description:
You must have been employed outside the United States in the 3 years preceding the petition for at least 1 year by a firm or corporation and you must be seeking to enter the United States to continue service to that firm or organization. Your employment must have been outside the United States in a managerial or executive capacity and with the same employer, an affiliate, or a subsidiary of the employer.
Evidence:
Your petitioning employer must be a U.S. employer. Your employer must have been doing business for at least 1 year, as an affiliate, a subsidiary, or as the same corporation or other legal entity that employed you abroad.

* Criteria for Demonstrating Extraordinary Ability

You must meet 3 out of the 10 listed criteria below to prove extraordinary ability in your field:
Evidence of receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence
Evidence of your membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members

Evidence of published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media
Evidence that you have been asked to judge the work of others, either individually or on a panel
Evidence of your original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field
Evidence of your authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media
Evidence that your work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases
Evidence of your performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations
Evidence that you command a high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field
Evidence of your commercial successes in the performing arts
** Examples of Documentary Evidence That A Person is an Outstanding Professor Or Researcher

Evidence of receipt of major prizes or awards for outstanding achievement
Evidence of membership in associations that require their members to demonstrate outstanding achievement
Evidence of published material in professional publications written by others about the alien’s work in the academic field
Evidence of participation, either on a panel or individually, as a judge of the work of others in the same or allied academic field
Evidence of original scientific or scholarly research contributions in the field
Evidence of authorship of scholarly books or articles (in scholarly journals with international circulation) in the field

ByStaff

The EB-1 Visa for Permanent Workers

The EB category of visas is intended for workers wanting permanent residence in the U.S. One preference category of the EB visas is the EB-1 for applicants with extraordinary academic ability, outstanding professorial reputation, or managers and executives of multinational companies.

If you are applying for the EB-1 visa in the “extraordinary ability” category, it is not necessary to have a job offer in order to be granted your visa. However, you should have full documentation of your commendations in the arts, sciences, business or sports. In order to be eligible to get an EB-1 permanent visa with outstanding ability, you must meet at least 3 of the following criteria:

  • evidence of national or international prizes or awards
  • membership in selective or exclusive professional associations for highly qualified members
  • published material in relevant publications and well-known media
  • history or prospect of judging the work of others in your field
  • evidence of your major contributions to your field of work
  • commercial success or fame
  • history of a leading role in professional organizations
  • high salary or other significant compensation for your services in your field of work.
  • performance or participation in showcases or exhibitions

Applicants who have received a significant award, such as the Nobel Prize or Pulitzer, do not need to have meet the above criteria but must provide evidence of their winning.

Applicants applying for EB-1 preference visa for professors or researchers are required to have an offer of employment before applying for permission to immigrate with a work visa. The EB-1 for professors and researchers also requires at least 3 years of professional scholarly experience. In addition, applicants need to meet 2 of the following criteria in order to be eligible to apply:

  • receiving major prizes in the field of work
  • membership in professional associations requiring excellence and exclusivity
  • published materials by others about or in response to your work
  • authoring published works in the field
  • judging or commenting on (ex: working as a judging panelist) the work of others in the field.
  • evidence of significant contributions to your field

International executives or managers need to have been working their position for at least 3 years. In order to immigrate as a manager or executive, you need to have worked at the same company that will be employing you in the U.S. for at least the past year from abroad. You cannot have been working in that position in the U.S. prior to applying.

If you qualify for the EB-1 preference category for permanent work visas, you will need to file a petition for alien worker. If you are applying as an “extraordinary ability” applicant you can petition for your visa yourself. Professors, researchers, managers, and executives must have their U.S. based employer petition for their admittance on their behalf. This petition has a $580 filing fee and can be filed by sending your application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services lockbox in Dallas.

Once you file this petition and a visa becomes available to you, you can also file your petition for permanent residence. This form, called the “change of status” form, will update your visa to that of permanent resident and you can then get your green card.

For more information and help with getting a visa, contact immigration attorney Phillip Kim